The ease of brewing illegal alcohol in the convenience of homes and the easy accessibility to the required ingredients hasseen an increasing activity in home brew. This increased activity has contributed in a big way to the social problems of Hanuabada village, the biggest Motuanvillage in Port Moresby.
It’s cheaper, sold in all corners of the village, in homes and openly on roadsides and almost anyone can get drunk at anytime of the day. The aftermath of this situation often leads to fights, disturbance of peace and unnecessary provocationsbecoming a common sight in the village. Serious injuries have occurred in some instances and innocent villagers havebeen victimized on many occasions. The Hanuabada homebrew has become popular over the years that outsiders make the daily trip into the village to gettheir supplies. Its quick impact on the drinker has made it more preferable than the legalized commercial brands andeveryone is involved including elderly men, youths, students and now women as young as 16-years of age who becomeaddicted. It is called Steam for the strength of its alcohol makeup and with its introduction to the outsiders, it has also becomeknown as “Firewara”.
It’s a cheap means for those wanting a fast intoxication, with a 500ml bottle going for K10.00 or a one litre container forK20.00. Buyers have had their money’s worth for a good drinking session and the demand for more is always on the table. Homebrew started in the village around the late 1970s’ to the early 80s’ as the price of commercial beer and spirits started becoming unaffordable for the ordinary villagers. According to information in the village, the process was introduced byyoung educated villagers who undertook the relevant university studies. It started off with fruits, especially pineapple kept in enclosed storage for days and then processed through a smalldistillery set up of copper pipes and large home-made pots over fire with the addition of sugar, yeast and water to make upa fruity flavored alcohol drink. The brewing process takes a minimum of four days after which the distillation processproduces the final product.
Since then, the fruity flavor has been disregarded to increase the alcohol potency of the substance and this is enjoyed morethan the commercial brands. Villagers, especially youths have made it a business activity for an income and many have forgone hunting and fishing oreven formal employment and studies to make a living out of homebrew. According to those involved, it is easy money and provides financial support to many families. But the social problems are considered less over the monetary benefits and the impact of their products to the socialwelfare of the village at large is of no concern to them. Clearly, the stuff (homebrew) is illegal and unauthorized but it is sold openly as would a legalized drink be. Villageleaders and those concerned have tried their best to address the situation but with little success and this illegal activity hascontinued to this day.
The resulting problems are clearly visible in the community and have become a major law and order issue for the bigvillage. This situation is compounded by the free movement of outsiders into the village for their own reasons including topurchase the illegal drink and often, fights breakout involving drunkards and, in some cases, ethnicalclashes. Defenselesspeople like women, children and the elderly and innocent people in general are always in danger of being victimized. The absence of Police in the village has made it worse and the situation is now getting out of hand. Police have kept outof the village following a clash with villagers that resulted in the death of two young village men from police gunshots. Lawlessness has increased since the conflict and everybody seems to be going about with his living without any care forauthority. Adding onto the law-and-order situation are the issues relating to the health of those consuming the drink. Many areenjoying the homebrew without realizing the alcohol content and the ingredients used and the production processinvolved. A good number of villagers have been hospitalized with bloated stomachs and liver infections from theuncontrolled use of yeast and continuous consumption. It is obvious that getting drunk is more important than theirwelfare and good living. People have died from the continuous consumption of homebrew and many young families have been left shattered withtheir future unknown. Still, no one has stood up to say enough is enough. Homebrew has heavily impacted the entire village. From health to peaceful and harmonious living and even the education of the children is affected as young men and women are getting into binge drinking and away from their studies.
In some cases, grades have dropped and the continuation of their studies become difficult thus, adding to the high unemployment rates in the village and causing more burden unto families. The way the activity is carried out in the village seems like the safety and welfare of the village has been compromised.The villagers selling the drinks know the negative impact of their activity but the need for a daily income to support theirfamilies is considered more important than the good of the community at large. Stopping them means stopping their income. It can be classed as a lame excuse to continue the activity especially whenthere are better income generating options of fishing, hunting and gardening available to consider. More often than not, questions arise such as ‘are we being responsible enough to care for our village and our fellowvillagers? Or do we continue to face hardships of life through the actions of a minority?’ There is a call to stand up against this evil drink as some call it or continue to suffer as the home breweries continue theirtrade. The Pine, Steam or Firewara saga will continue to bring misery to the entire village until and unless drastic measures aretaken with immediate effect to ban this illegal activity.
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